Women Community
Background
Once a month, Unapendwa offers training courses for women on topics such as business management, money management, and teamwork. Through these business training sessions, women with similar interests have formed groups to specialize in specific areas. Unapendwa supports them by providing foundational knowledge and helping them overcome initial challenges.
The Unapendwa Women Community consciously focuses on supporting groups rather than individuals. We are convinced that teamwork and cooperation are essential skills that lead to greater independence and self-reliance. Thanks to their solidarity, groups can more easily overcome crises and obstacles. At the same time, they foster the exchange of knowledge and experience, which enables the development of new ideas and solutions.
The group members motivate and support each other, thereby strengthening the resilience of each individual. Furthermore, collaboration allows for more efficient use of resources and the implementation of larger projects that would often be unattainable for individuals. In addition, it strengthens the sense of belonging and social bonds, which is invaluable, especially in challenging times.
Sewing Class
Unapendwa's sewing course offers women in the community a valuable opportunity to acquire new skills and expand their career prospects. The course runs for six months and takes place three mornings a week. It is led by our experienced and dedicated sewing instructor, Elizabeth, who not only imparts technical knowledge but also motivates and individually supports the participants.
During the course, the women learn both basic and advanced sewing techniques and gain practical insights into working with various materials. The program aims not only to impart craft skills to the women but also to empower them to apply and further develop these skills independently.
Sewing Group
Upon completion of the program, the women have the opportunity to become self-employed as individuals. At the same time, they are encouraged to form groups and build businesses together. This is based on the strength of communities: groups are more resilient to challenges and can better overcome obstacles through teamwork, cooperation, and collective effort.
These groups continue to be supported by Elizabeth, who visits them once a week to answer questions and provide guidance and support. This ensures that the women not only get off to a successful start but also benefit in the long term from a stable foundation built on collaboration and ongoing support.
Kuku Group
The Kuku group also originated as part of the general business training. It brought together women from the community who shared a common interest in livestock and poultry farming. As a group, they received specialized training and, with the support of volunteers, were able to make essential purchases – including building a chicken coop, buying their first chicks, feed, and an incubator. The current chicken coop is located on the property of a Kuku group member.
The women at Unapendwa meet once a week to discuss current topics, successes, difficulties and challenges, and to consider together how Unapendwa can continue to provide support.
The aim is to expand and develop the women's business on a stable foundation, to cover ongoing costs through the sale of animals and eggs, and at the same time to generate an income that allows the women to cover their own living expenses.
Shanga Group
The Shanga group initially struggled to define their interests and find a common focus. However, through various offerings and methods, the group eventually agreed to work with beads. These are used to make jewelry or decorate clothing.
The group is currently receiving training in this field, learning the basic techniques and skills of beadmaking. The long-term goal is for the women to work independently and use their acquired knowledge to grow and establish themselves in this craft.
The work should not only provide them with a stable source of income, but also create space for creative potential and enable them to tap into new markets. In this way, long-term success and the strengthening of their independence should be promoted.
